DELTONA DEATHS

Family, friends honor missing Deltona mother, 2 children

Felicita Perez, center, and her family talk about her daughter Yessenia Suarez and her grandchildren Thalia and Michael Otto during a memorial service at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Deltona Saturday.

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But 9-year-old Thalia Otto and 8-year-old Michael Otto haven't played in two months, and Perez has found himself looking for his beloved grandchildren, as well as their mother, every day since he last saw them Oct. 22.

“Who would've thought, on a day like today, I'd still be searching for them?” Perez asked Saturday during a special church service held to celebrate the memory of his stepdaughter, Yessenia Suarez, and her children, Thalia and Michael.

The trio were reported missing Oct. 23 and are presumed dead. Investigators said Suarez's husband, Luis Toledo, confessed to killing his 28-year-old wife during a fight but said he isn't the person responsible for the deaths of the children. Toledo pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

A few hundred people gathered Saturday afternoon at the Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia, the church attended by Suarez and her family, for the special service.

Suarez's mother, Felicita Perez, shared stories about her oldest daughter while a picture of Suarez posing with a statue of her school's mascot, the Rollins College fox, was displayed on a large screen.

The picture was a befitting image of Suarez, described by her mother as a dedicated student who loved reading and arts and crafts but worried her studies were taking too long.

“As long as you finish before you're 30, you're on track,” Perez said she told her daughter.

Dr. David Richard, one of Suarez's professors, said Suarez was the only student in class to score 100 percent on the midterm during the fall semester.

Richard said Suarez, who was set to graduate next May, will still graduate with her class.

When she wasn't busy with school or her full-time job with American K-9 Detection Services, Suarez loved taking Thalia and Michael to the park or the library, Perez said. She said Suarez set a good example for not only her children but everyone around her.

“Like an older sister, she would always give counsel to her brother and sister, so they would stay in school and do the right thing,” Perez said.

Family described Thalia as the miniature version of Suarez, a hard worker and perfectionist.

Thalia's aunt, Emily Suarez, recalled when her niece was into making colorful bracelets and selling them for a small fee.

“She said 'Titi, give me your favorite colors and I'll make one for you, and I won't charge you since you're my favorite titi,'” Emily Suarez said.

Genevieve McGuire, a teacher at Bentley Elementary School in Sanford where Thalia and Michael were students, shared her fond memories of the two children.

“(Thalia) always tried to find a way to turn her stories into fairy tales,” McGuire said.

She said Michael wasn't as outgoing as his sister, but once he was comfortable around you he was silly and goofy. He also danced at a school talent show where he was remembered for not just his moves but his shining smile.

When the search for his stepdaughter and grandchildren began, Ruben Perez vowed to never stop looking for the three until they're found.

<p><span class="Dateline">DELTONA —</span> On his way home from work, Ruben Perez always looked forward to a game of hide and seek with his two grandchildren.</p><p>But 9-year-old Thalia Otto and 8-year-old Michael Otto haven't played in two months, and Perez has found himself looking for his beloved grandchildren, as well as their mother, every day since he last saw them Oct. 22.</p><p>“Who would've thought, on a day like today, I'd still be searching for them?” Perez asked Saturday during a special church service held to celebrate the memory of his stepdaughter, Yessenia Suarez, and her children, Thalia and Michael.</p><p>The trio were reported missing Oct. 23 and are presumed dead. Investigators said Suarez's husband, Luis Toledo, confessed to killing his 28-year-old wife during a fight but said he isn't the person responsible for the deaths of the children. Toledo pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. </p><p>A few hundred people gathered Saturday afternoon at the Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia, the church attended by Suarez and her family, for the special service.</p><p>Suarez's mother, Felicita Perez, shared stories about her oldest daughter while a picture of Suarez posing with a statue of her school's mascot, the Rollins College fox, was displayed on a large screen.</p><p>The picture was a befitting image of Suarez, described by her mother as a dedicated student who loved reading and arts and crafts but worried her studies were taking too long.</p><p>“As long as you finish before you're 30, you're on track,” Perez said she told her daughter.</p><p>Dr. David Richard, one of Suarez's professors, said Suarez was the only student in class to score 100 percent on the midterm during the fall semester.</p><p>Richard said Suarez, who was set to graduate next May, will still graduate with her class.</p><p>When she wasn't busy with school or her full-time job with American K-9 Detection Services, Suarez loved taking Thalia and Michael to the park or the library, Perez said. She said Suarez set a good example for not only her children but everyone around her.</p><p>“Like an older sister, she would always give counsel to her brother and sister, so they would stay in school and do the right thing,” Perez said.</p><p>Family described Thalia as the miniature version of Suarez, a hard worker and perfectionist.</p><p>Thalia's aunt, Emily Suarez, recalled when her niece was into making colorful bracelets and selling them for a small fee.</p><p>“She said 'Titi, give me your favorite colors and I'll make one for you, and I won't charge you since you're my favorite titi,'” Emily Suarez said.</p><p>Genevieve McGuire, a teacher at Bentley Elementary School in Sanford where Thalia and Michael were students, shared her fond memories of the two children.</p><p>“(Thalia) always tried to find a way to turn her stories into fairy tales,” McGuire said.</p><p>She said Michael wasn't as outgoing as his sister, but once he was comfortable around you he was silly and goofy. He also danced at a school talent show where he was remembered for not just his moves but his shining smile.</p><p>When the search for his stepdaughter and grandchildren began, Ruben Perez vowed to never stop looking for the three until they're found.</p><p>“That's a promise that I made, and it's a promise that I'll keep.”</p>